The Premium Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit designed to help eligible individuals and families with low or moderate income afford health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace , also known as the Exchange.
The size of your Premium Tax Credit is based on a sliding scale. Those who have a lower income get a larger credit to help cover the cost of their insurance. When you enroll in Marketplace insurance, you can choose to have the Marketplace compute an estimated credit that is paid to your insurance company to lower what you pay for your monthly premiums advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit, or APTC.
Or, you can choose to get all of the benefit of the credit when you file your tax return for the year. If you choose to have advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit made on your behalf, you will reconcile the amount paid in advance with the actual credit you compute when you file your tax return for the year. See link below for information specific to tax year If you owe no tax, you can get the full amount of the credit as a refund. However, if advance credit payments were made to your insurance company and your actual allowable credit on your return is less than your advance credit payments, the difference, subject to certain repayment caps, will be subtracted from your refund or added to your balance due for tax years other than See the Coronavirus tax relief section on this page for information specific to tax year The Health Insurance Marketplace, also called simply the Marketplace, is the place where you will find information about private health insurance options, purchase health insurance, and obtain help with premiums and out-of-pocket costs if you are eligible.
Generally, you purchase health insurance at the Marketplace during an open enrollment period. After an open enrollment period is over, individuals who experience certain life events may qualify for a special enrollment period to buy a health plan through a Marketplace. For details about who is eligible for a special enrollment period, for information about future open enrollment periods, and to learn more about the Marketplace, visit HealthCare.
When you or a family member applies for Marketplace coverage, the Marketplace will estimate the amount of the Premium Tax Credit that you may be able to claim for the tax year, using information you provide about your family composition, projected household income, and other factors, such as whether those whom you are enrolling are eligible for other, non-Marketplace coverage.
